Henry May Join Werner's Sox Bid

December 06, 2001|By PAUL DOYLE; Courant Staff Writer

BOSTON — John Harrington has had the bids almost a week, but the behind-the-scenes shuffling for control of the Red Sox continues.

The Miami Herald reported Wednesday that Major League Baseball has given John Henry permission to sell the Florida Marlins to Montreal Expos owner Jeffrey Loria. The report said the deal could be completed by the end of the month and MLB is prepared to run the Expos if they are not eliminated through contraction.

While other media reports dismissed the Herald's as premature, it is clear commissioner Bud Selig is trying to accelerate Henry's sale of the Marlins so the billionaire can become a major investor in the group led by television producer Tom Werner bidding for the Red Sox.

Without Henry, the group may lack the money to complete a sale. Werner's partner is ski resort developer Les Otten. The New York Times is also an investor, although the company is more interested in the Red Sox's 80 percent stake in the New England Sports Network.

While Harrington has been silent since bids were placed a week ago today, there have been reports that Cablevision founder Charles Dolan came in with the highest offer. The Boston Herald said Dolan topped $400 million for the Yawkey Trust's 53 percent controlling interest in the franchise. Newsday reported Dolan's bid was more than $365 million.

Both would break the record for a baseball sale. The Cleveland Indians sold for $323 million last year to Dolan's brother, Lawrence.

Boston concessionaire Joseph O'Donnell reportedly bid more $370 million, while Werner's was estimated in the $360 million range. The Boston Herald reported Werner attached a stipulation the bid was contingent on Henry's involvement.

And with Selig apparently favoring Werner's group, Henry should soon be free to invest. Selig is close to Werner and Henry, and may be privately lobbying for the group.

Harrington has said he may need a few weeks to review the bids and consult with the team's limited partners. There also is chance Harrington will give the top three bidders -- Dolan, O'Donnell and Werner -- the chance to submit a second round of bids.

With reports of Dolan's bid surfacing, O'Donnell and Werner could have an opportunity to increase their offers. But the three other bidders -- Jeremy Jacobs, Miles Prentice, and Frank McCourt -- were apparently eliminated and are no longer under consideration.